## 4c. Literary Fragment(s)

Introduction

The Canterbury Tales is about a group of travellers who plan to set out on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, a city in the southwest of England that is home to the shrine of St Thomas Becket.

First some historical background on the history of Canterbury and its pilgrimages: Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury in the twelfth century. He fought for the rights of the Church against King Henry II, who was overheard saying something like "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" by a few loyal followers, who promptly travelled to Canterbury and murdered the Archbishop in the Cathedral. Very soon after, Thomas Becket was pronounced a saint and martyr, and people flocked from all over the country to go on pilgrimage to his shrine in the Cathedral.

In the Canterbury Tales Chaucer starts with the General Prologue, in which Chaucer sets out his story and introduces the various pilgrims. He then proceeds to set up the frame story thus: to pass the time in the evening, the innkeeper suggests a storytelling competition to keep them occupied during their travels. Each pilgrim is to tell two stories on the road to Canterbury, and two more on the way back. Whoever tells the best story, will win a free supper, paid for by the rest of the party.

Below, you will read a few fragments from the General Prologue. You will also watch video versions of a few of the tales.

➜ Read the fragments from The Canterbury Tales below.
➜ Watch the three videos showing the full tales of the Knight, the Miller and the Wife of Bath.
➜ Answer the comprehension questions you will find below the text and videos.
➜ Upload a screenshot of your results to Seesaw/Egodact.

Text Fragments

General Prologue: the start

The Introduction to the Knight

The Introduction to the Wife of Bath

The Introduction to the Miller

Videos of the Tales